Colorado University Athletics

MBB Invited To Play Maui Invitational

MBB Invited To Play Maui Invitational
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BOULDER ? For the first time in school history, the University of Colorado menGÇÖs basketball team will play in the Maui Invitational during the 2009-2010 non-conference season.

Hosted by Division II college Chaminade, and sponsored by EA Sports, the Buffaloes will be one of eight schools participating in the 26th edition of the tournament.

Joining CU two years from now will be Arizona, Gonzaga, Louisville, Maryland, Vanderbilt, and Wisconsin. It will feature match ups with schools CU has never played or matched up against in quite some time. Three of those schools, the Buffaloes have never played against.

GÇ£It should really excite everyone to play those teams in that field,GÇ¥ said CU head coach Jeff Bzdelik. GÇ£It will certainly help us in recruiting because great, young talented players want to play against that kind of competition. When you couple that kind of tournament with the Big 12 and the other marquee conferences, it helps in recruiting to attract the kind of players we want, it helps the visibly for our school and it helps with the excitement for our media and for our fans.GÇ¥

Next yearGÇÖs 2008-09 non-conference schedule, CU will also be making their first-ever trip to the Rainbow Classic in Honolulu.

Maui Invitational Opponents in 2009
Arizona: CU has not played since 1974; Chaminade: never played; Gonzaga: last played in 1999; Louisville: last played in 1996; Maryland: never played; Vanderbilt: never played; Wisconsin: recently played Nov. 17 at Madison.

Maui Invitational Notes

  • Half a century ago the NCAA opened the door to greater competitive equity in college sports by adopting what is known by many as the Hawaiian Exemption, paving the way for Hawaii-based colleges to compete with mainland schools in spite of their geographic isolation.
  • On December 23, 1982...little known NAIA Chaminade upset top-ranked Virginia, led by three-time MVP Ralph Sampson, 77-72. Called GÇ£the greatest upset in college basketball history,GÇ¥ thewin put host Chaminade on the map nationwide and led to the creation of the Maui Classic.
  • 78 schools representing 20 conferences and 36 states have competed in the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational.
  • Maui participants have won an astounding 52 of 68 NCAA championships, 51 of 67 national runner-up spots and comprise 202 of 272 Final Four teams.
  • In late 2002, ESPN and KemperSports Marketing completed a long-term contract extension, guaranteeing live television coverage on ESPN or ESPN2 of a minimum nine tournament games through 2011. This translates to national television exposure for all eight participating teams and their respective conferences, a minimum of two games televised nationally for six teams, and all three games televised nationwide for four of the eight teams in the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational.
  • All 12 games will be again televised for the 2007 tournament.

Rainbow Classic Notes

  • The Classic is celebrating its 44th year as is the longest running eight-team tournament in the country.
  • The Rainbow Warriors, the ClassicGÇÖs defending champion, have captured five of the last six titles, including four straight from 2001-04. Last year, Hawai?i defeated Creighton, 76-60, in the final.